Students, Faculty Fan Out to Help on Samford Gives Back Day

Published on April 15, 2013 by William Nunnelley
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Samford University students and faculty rolled up their sleeves and went to work for the community during annual Samford Gives Back Day Saturday, April 13. More than 400 took part in the university-wide service initiative.

Students and faculty worked at more than 25 sites around Birmingham and Jefferson County including such locations as Habitat for Humanity, Northstar Ministries, Lovelady Center, East Lake Methodist Church, Urban Ministries, Ruffner Mountain, TEMPO at Railroad Park, Homewood Community Gardens (where students Alex Gerrish, foreground, and Paige Van De Vuurst load mulch, at right) and others.

Students Andy Winchester and Ben McGlamery were part of a group working on a Habitat for Humanity homebuilding project in Hueytown. "I love the mission here, supporting people, and working together to get these people in their new house," said Winchester. "It makes you feel really good, just waking up this morning and knowing you can come out and make a difference," added McGlamery.

The annual work day was organized by Samford's Office of Student Leadership and Community Engagement and Omicron Delta Kappa national service fraternity. Director of Student Leadership and Community Engagement Janna Pennington said one goal of the program was to provide exposure for students to learn about the community and ways they can serve beyond Saturday.

"Programs like Samford Gives Back give students the opportunity to experience life outside of the Samford gates and see how they can plug into the Birmingham community," Pennington said.

Senior sociology major Taylor Bell worked with Pennington to coordinate the day of service. He led a devotional at the start of the day in Pete Hanna Center, urging the volunteers to "take time to get to know your host and (to) learn why their work is important."

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About Samford University – Samford University is a premier nationally ranked private university deeply rooted in its Christian mission. Founded in 1841, Samford is the 87th oldest institution of higher education in the United States. U.S. News & World Report ranks Samford 4th among regional universities in the South. Samford enrolls 5,619 students from 44 states, the District of Columbia and 29 other countries in its 10 academic units: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy, and public health. Samford also fields 17 NCAA Division I teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference.